BlackSun secures $1bn for debut fund targeting $7bn sports, media and technology investments

Private equity firm BlackSun has successfully raised $1 billion for its inaugural investment vehicle, Mega Fund I, as it aims to reach a $7 billion fundraising target, according to Bloomberg. The fund, under the leadership of BlackSun Private Equity’s founder and chief operating officer Nery Gomez, plans to continue raising capital from both US and international investors in the coming months.

Greenstone Equity Partners has been appointed as the firm's global placement agent, specializing in capital raising from investors across the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE.

BlackSun intends to focus its investments across five core areas: professional sports and franchise ownership, entertainment, fintech, commercial real estate, and media and intellectual property. This strategy comes at a time when institutional and private capital are increasingly gravitating towards sports and entertainment sectors, with franchise valuations in major leagues hitting record levels and investors viewing sports assets as long-duration alternatives.

Unlike more traditional private equity platforms, BlackSun emphasizes community engagement and partnerships surrounding its investments. The firm has already demonstrated a willingness to explore unconventional proposals, such as involving Hollywood guilds in its bid for Warner Bros Discovery (which the entertainment company had already agreed to a $111 billion deal with Paramount) and partnering with Native American groups for an NBA expansion franchise in Seattle, where the expansion fee is expected to be between $7 billion and $10 billion.